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Johannesburg - A snap poll by Fin24 reveals that an overwhelming majority of readers are ready to ditch traditional voice services in favour of WhatsApp calling.
On Tuesday, reports started to emerge about WhatsApp unveiling an updated version of its Android app that allows all users to access the instant messaging service’s new calling feature.
The latest update of the Android WhatsApp application comes after the service was testing out its voice offering on an invite-only basis.
To get the voice calling service on WhatsApp, Android users can visit the application’s official website or click on this APK software link. The latest version of the app, at this stage, is not available on the Google Play store.
However, Fin24 readers say they have already started downloading the updated app and tested out the WhatsApp calling service.
Moreover, 21 readers told Fin24 that they would rather use WhatsApp calling over traditional voice calling services. Just four readers said that they would rather use traditional voice calling services over WhatsApp.
Fin24 user Liz Kay said, “Yes, I would much rather use WhatsApp calls. Don't like typing much. Great job.”
Another Fin24 user, Mboneni Mulaudzi, said, “Yes, if it's clear and connectivity is not an issue.”
Fin24 reader Herman Ndungwane also said he would use the service.
“We are charged too much by cellphone companies,” said Ndungwane.
Meanwhile, Fin24 user Nkosi4m said, “I'd rather use WhatsApp call than expensive traditional calls.”
Impact on voice market
WhatsApp calling is yet to become available to other smartphone operating systems such as Apple iOS.
But when the WhatsApp voice feature is rolled out to all users of the app, it could threaten traditional voice services on offer from telecom providers because of the scale of the WhatsApp user base.
WhatsApp has previously said that it has over 700 million users worldwide. In South Africa, WhatsApp has around 10 million users, according to research compiled by World Wide Worx and Fuseware.
Instant messaging services are already impacting on the voice market. Earlier this year, MTN reported that the contribution of voice to its revenues has fallen by two percentage points to 61.2%.
Operators, at this stage, have not acted to block WhatsApp or its calling functions.
But they have made comments about 'over the top' (OTT) offerings such as WhatsApp.
Addressing journalists at a briefing in Johannesburg last week, Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao said a lack of interoperability among OTT providers, such as instant messaging services, is a concern for operators.
WhatsApp users, for instance, can only send messages to other users who have installed the app.
"If I want to send an instant message from a Vodafone client to WhatsApp, I can't,” said Colao.
"The biggest communication platform in the world has no obligation to connect," he said.
Colao also explained how disconnecting interconnect services from another mobile network would not be allowed as per telecom regulations around the world.
"So, I think the regulations should be the same," he told journalists.
